An archaeologist finds herself writing fiction — what stories will she unearth?

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Writing Again

No, you’re not imagining things. This really is a post from jmmcdowell. Albeit, a brief one. My blogging hiatus continues because I’m finally working on the novels again. And they must take priority. October’s word count is approaching 9,000—a significant increase over September’s 6,800. I need to keep the momentum going. And that means the time hasn’t yet come to dive into blogging again.I hope you’re all doing well and finding success in all your endeavors. Keep at them! If all goes as planned, the new year should bring new posts. And then…? Well, we’ll just have to see. 🙂

Kind of you to check in and let us know you’re still alive and kicking! Great job with the writing! I’m trying to do the same! (Another 101 Tips nonfiction book was just published, but I’m still chipping away at the novel in the meantime.)

Alive, yes. Kicking? Not so much! I’m still easing back into more stressful workouts to avoid reinjuring my back. 😉 Congratulations on the next 101 Tips books—I’ve missed so much these last few months! And remember, there’s nothing wrong with chipping away. What matters is that you’re at it and enjoying the activity. 🙂

Thanks, Carrie! It’s been a while since I’ve seen word counts like this. Are they good words? Mmm, if not, they’re at least laying the foundation of the first draft so I can refine them on the next go around. 🙂 Hope you’re continuing to settle in and enjoy your new place! Do you have a writing nook for yourself?

Nice to see you here JM! I’ve been very sporadic with blogging over the last few months. Congrats on the writing! The last proper writing I did was during NaNo last year, and I haven’t touched that again, so I think I might take the opportunity of NaNo again and pick that one up to finish off, or finish the first draft anyway. It’s a memoir piece that has suddenly become highly significant.

Life has a way of intervening sometimes and interrupting the writing process, even if we’ve been on a roll. NaNo is a good time to reestablish the habit if we have the opportunity. I want to use it (unofficially!) to draft out a significant chunk of the novel I’m rewriting. I hope you’ll be able to get back to that memoir piece, too. Happy NaNo! 🙂

Thanks, Arlene! Meghan has stepped aside to let the characters from my first novel have another shot at rebuilding it. 😉 If I can keep some momentum going, a complete chunk might be drafted by the end of the month. And then I could use NaNoWriMo as another “PerNoReMo” to try to draft another chunk. We’ll see! And then, if you’re interested, I will need some test readers. 🙂

I hope all is well with you now and you are working on your writing, too! You definitely have a good story there. 🙂

JM, this is exciting news and yes, yes, yes, I would love to be a beta for you! I am doing so good health wise now — 2016 has really been a most unusual year with many unexpected turns and experiences, which I will use in my writings. 🙂 I have been closing in on the end of my story. Slow progress but I’m getting there. I would love to share the full draft with you when it’s ready. Thanks & good luck with your writing. It’s great to hear that all that work on your first novel is paying off 🙂

Great, I will let you know when I’m ready for fresh, objective eyes on the story! 🙂 I’m hoping 2017 is a much better year for everyone. 2016 seems to have brought too many issues to too many people. I think humanity in general could use a breather. Not that we’re good about bringing about such change….

Let me know when you’re ready for a reader for your story—great to hear that you’re closing in on the end! 🙂

Spooky – I was just wondering how you were doing this morning – and here’s a post. Excited you’re running with the words (as dangerous as running with the bulls and just as tricky – but what a feeling of success when completed.)
Cheers for having the strength to keep away from the lure of blogging and being able to focus on your novel. Sounds like progress is being made. (Inspirational…I’ve moved stuff around and cleared off my desk…maybe some serious writing next year)
I think we’re all ready for this year to skate on outta here – what chaos in so many ways. Hope the remaining few months offer much more calm and happiness.
Thanks for slipping in an update – we’re all still here, you see.
Love the birds splashing!

Sometimes a break and a little cleaning are just the triggers our brains need to dive into creative work again. My office is now painted and has a new sleek corner desk and new file drawers and shelves with happy plants. It’s amazing what a difference that’s made for both the day job and the novel writing!

The mallards are feeding in one of the fountains on our downtown creek. After a long history of flooding (we go back to 1745 here), the creek was channelized with stormwater management features and turned into a fantastic parkway. We love taking walks along it. (And I bet Molly and the German would love it, too—we have a very dog-friendly city!)

2016 has been a rough year in so many ways for too many people I know. I’d really like 2017 to usher in some positive events for everyone. If we would all treat others with the same respect we want them to show us, what a start that would be.

Thanks, Carol! I debated about posting this update because I didn’t want to get too distracted from the novel. 😉 But I thought I should let everyone know I haven’t completely dropped off the face of the earth—just part way!

Thanks, Brigitte! We’re doing well here, and the blogging break has been good for me. When I do start up “regularly” again, I will do things differently. But for now, I’m really focusing on the novel manuscripts. After all, they’re the reason for the blog. And blogging really contributed to my falling away from them. That had to stop and can’t be allowed to happen again. 🙂

I hope you’re doing well, too, and here’s hoping that 2017 will be a better year for everyone on so many levels!

I always love seeing and hearing from you! Sounds like your choice to put blogging aside has paid off. Nice job, and I’m really glad for you. I have a post coming up this week about blogging, too, ironically enough.

It’s funny how we all reach a certain impasse with blogging, and 99% of the time, people say it’s because it’s getting in the way of their productivity with their WIPs. Of course, this is all writers. I don’t know how many chefs or photographers or dog trainers feel that blogging takes up too much time and interfering with their work productivity.

Maybe blogging isn’t such an interruption for non-writers because their activities require them to be elsewhere (in the kitchen or studio, for example). For writers, though, both the works and the blogging/social media often take place at the computer, making it easy to slip away from the “harder” task (the manuscript) to the “easier” or “more fun” one (social media). Plus, I wonder if many chefs and photographers have the equivalent of agents and editors stressing the “importance” of a social media presence!

Right now, I don’t know if my rebuild of the first novel will be an improvement on the original or not. I think it is. But if it’s still not up to publication, at least I’m enjoying the act of writing again, and that is a good thing in itself!

What’s really great to see is that even though so many of us aren’t blogging the way we used to do, we’re still engaged at some level and working at the projects that led us to blog in the first place! For me, I know that when I do come back, it has to be a schedule that allows me to focus on the manuscripts, not the social media exposure for those manuscripts. Life has to take precedence for us!

Thank you, Andrea! As I mentioned to Kate above, I don’t know how good my current efforts are. But I won’t know that until I finish them! This break is letting me strive for that goal. I’m hoping 2017 will be a good year on so many levels. And I hope all is well with you!

Fantastic to hear that you’re writing again, too, Dianne! I’ve really enjoyed your books and would love to see you publish more. 🙂 No pressure, though! Sometimes we need a break and sometimes life takes priority. But it’s great to be back at the keyboard. 🙂

Hi JM! I love the diving in photo – that’s exactly how I felt about getting back into this blogging thing! Like you said, our novels have to take priority. That’s great that you’ve been writing so much – those blogging breaks really help.

Happy Halloween – make sure to eat a few candy bars for that needed energy to write more words! I’m really looking forward to reading your novels and hearing more about Meghan’s adventures.

Yay! So glad to hear that you’re making such great strides in your novels, JM! I know that we keep in passing touch on FB, but there is something so much more thoughtful about seeing my blogger friends back in action in their own online homes. 🙂

Best of writing to you in November and beyond! I’ll wait patiently to read more of your noveling adventures. 😀

OK, I’ll admit it. I am jealous of your word count. I am so busy teaching creative writing classes and working on my blog and taking grandkids out for ice cream, that my word count has dwindled. But you are inspiring me! Keep it going!

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On Adverbs

Adverbs are my place holders as ideas rush out and my fingers can’t keep up with them on the keyboard. Later, when I’m editing, they remind me what I was thinking. “He reached clumsily for his keys” can be revised to “He fumbled for his keys.” Or, “She said gently” reminds me to make sure her dialogue makes that feeling clear.